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Colorado Stone Quarries is being touted as a bright spot in the effort to diversify the economy in Delta County.

"When Delta County lost hundreds of high-paying coal mine jobs, no one could have predicted that five years later sales tax would be up and unemployment rates would be low," Delta County Commissioner Don Suppes said at a Morning Business Buzz recently hosted by the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce.

Nuclear Care Partners received accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) making it the only provider in the United States exclusively serving former atomic workers to achieve such a high level of patient care.

"We are thrilled to be accredited!" said Patti Kendall, VP of clinical compliance at Nuclear Care Partners.

Colorado Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE), which helps building owners and developers finance energy efficiency measures, recently announced the state's first agricultural project funded through the program. Ela Family Farms, a Hotchkiss-based certified organic orchard, will use C-PACE financing to install a new solar photovoltaic (PV) system at its warehouse.

Recently, a crew of volunteers from ShadeScapes Americas headed to St. John in the US Virgin Islands with a unique gift -- the gift of shade. The ShadeScapes team installed 50 elegant, long-lasting umbrellas at 22 locations on the island, comprised of restaurants and schools that suffered devastating damage during Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Cheryl Husmann presented the 2017 year-end report for Smiling Aviation at Blake Field at the county commissioners' Feb. 5 meeting.

Earlier in the meeting the commissioners approved the application to Federal Aviation Administration for federal assistance in the reconstruction and resurfacing of the runway at Blake Field to FAA standards.

Nebraska's loss is western Colorado's gain. When the Richman family moved from Imperial to Delta, DCMH Family Medicine gained a primary care physician in Jonathan Richman, M.D., and the communities of Olathe, Delta and Montrose gained a dentist.

Customers have sparked change in their communities by participating in a unique program offered by Alpine Bank. Last year alone, the bank donated $1,140,350 to nonprofits and other community organizations through the bank's Loyalty Debit Card program.

High Country News announced that it will establish a satellite editorial office in Gunnison for its digital editorial team in July. The Western magazine, whose headquarters have been in Paonia since 1983, will set up a new office in collaboration with the School of Environment and Sustainability (ENVS) at Western State Colorado University, assessing over the course of a year whether a more permanent move for the team is feasible.

At the Jan. 10 meeting of the We Are Referrals group, Julianne Garton with the Women's Crisis Center (180 Ministries) group and Leslie Sparks with the Hilltop Domestic Violence Services each received a $500 donation.

Chalmer Swain, owner of Taylor Funeral Service & Crematory, recently qualified for recertification of the designation of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. Swain is a lifetime member of the academy.

As another year begins, a random and completely unscientific survey of Cedaredge businesses suggests two things: sales for Christmas 2017 kept pace with -- and sometimes exceeded -- the 2016 holiday season and prospects for 2018 look bright.

Stacy's on Main is a coffee shop, gift store and restaurant in downtown Cedaredge.

What began as a roof repair quickly evolved into something bigger for Mike and Rose Wenner, owners of Grand Mesa Lodge. Unlike lack of moisture during the current dry spell, last winter's snowfall on Grand Mesa was heavy -- especially at the lodge which is situated at 10,500 feet in a rustic area adjacent to Island Lake.

The new year brings big changes for Delta County Memorial Hospital's physician billing department. Beginning Jan. 1 physician billing will again be done in-house for all new services. Patients will no longer receive statements from Reventics (ER and radiology) or AR Services.

Innovative business ideas can come from anywhere, at any time. But how many great business ideas never come to be because the path from idea to launch can be daunting, difficult to navigate, and downright scary.

A collaborative program under way at Western State Colorado University, ICELab Accelerator is "a unique mentor-driven program" that pairs high-growth business startups with world-class mentors, advisors and investors.

Delta County has received the National SolSmart Bronze designation as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Sunshot Initiative. The designation program recognizes communities that represent positive solar practices.

Volunteers of America and Senior CommUnity Meals (SCM) honored US Bank Delta branch for their past three years of volunteer service delivering hot meals to homebound older adults in Delta who are enrolled in the Meals on Wheels program.

Joe Walker, SCM program director, presented Sharon Lovato, US Bank branch manager, with a plaque and personalized cake made by their talented lead cook, Victor Quezada, at the bank's office on Highway 92 in Delta.

Local businesses in Delta County are competing against each other to sell the most turkey hands to help the Partners mentoring program and children in our community. Please spend a dollar and buy a turkey hand when you go out to eat at either Taco Time or CB's Tavern.

On Tuesday, Oct. 31, the Delta Police Department assisted the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) with the execution of a search warrant at "Slick Ricks II," 322 Main Street, in the City of Delta. Approximately 28 gaming machines were seized along with an undisclosed amount of cash and documents.

It's not shark tank, it's trout tank. Join local entrepreneurs from Delta and Gunnison counties for the inaugural Western Slope Trout Tank, celebrating the ingenuity of the rural west. Trout Tank will be held Monday, Nov. 13, at the Paradise Theater at 215 Grand Avenue in Paonia from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Delta County Memorial Hospital, a 49-bed nonprofit hospital, was honored with an "A" hospital safety score for the third time in the past three years. Recognition comes from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit run by employers and other large purchasers of health benefits.

Since the earliest settlers moved into Delta County it has relied on two major forces to drive its economy: energy and agriculture. Solar Energy International (SEI) has honored this heritage by introducing Solarize, a community-based outreach campaign to keep the energy-producing heritage alive.

The new and the old came together in Hotchkiss in September to herald the opening of the West Elk Clinic. Not only is the clinic new, so was the ceremonial ripping off of the bandaid to reveal the sign on the front of the building.

Recipients of grants from the 24th annual Wells Fargo Community Assistance Fund have been announced by Jay Bugarin, Wells Fargo's district manager for the Blue Mountain District. Nineteen nonprofit organizations based in Southern Colorado received the donations totaling $25,000.

On Saturday, Nov. 25, Surface Creek area businesses -- large and small, brick and mortar and home-based -- are invited to participate in National Small Business Saturday, a concerted promotion to keep holiday shoppers spending their dollars right here at home.

The Center for Mental Health is pleased to announce that it has opened its newly renovated and expanded space in its building in Delta to include a partnership with River Valley Family Health Center to offer complete health care including mental health, substance abuse services, primary care and dental services. Although final touches are still being made to the building, the offering of expanded services began on Sept. 25.

HopeWest has been ranked number 26 of the Best Places to Work in Health Care nationwide and number 5 in the Family Friendliest category among the 150 healthcare providers and insurers recognized by Modern Healthcare. This is the third year HopeWest has participated in this recognition program and the third year to be named as an outstanding employer in the health care industry on a national level.

This summer, ShadeScapes Americas was named a 2017 Colorado Company to Watch. The award acknowledges the drive, excellence and influence of ShadeScapes Americas as a growing company developing valuable products and services, creating quality jobs, enabling new industries and enriching the community of Hotchkiss and Delta County as a whole.

Forty years ago, the communities of Delta and Montrose came together to establish a community college to expand educational opportunities for the secondary students in their high schools, as well as provide training for adults seeking to develop job skills.

Today, the Technical College of the Rockies (TCR) is operated solely by Delta County Joint School District #50.

Nearly everyone has at least one cell phone, and at some point it will need repairs. Service that once required a drive to Grand Junction can now be found in Montrose, next to Rib City Grill at 1521 Oxbow Drive #150.

Delta County Memorial Hospital had several choices when deciding on a location for a new walk-in clinic in Paonia. Last winter, after considering numerous properties, it chose to locate in the heart of the downtown core and purchased the 6,000-square-foot Bank of Colorado building at 218 Grand Avenue.

When Delta County Memorial Hospital committed to building a new clinic in Hotchkiss, it considered every detail. It wanted the best for the North Fork Valley community, and it wanted to be an integral part of the community.

The Center for Mental Health announces it has purchased and intends to renovate into a crisis clinic the property located at the corner of Cascade and South 2nd Street in Montrose. When completed, this building will be open and available 24 hours a day for those experiencing a behavioral health crisis.

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association's Montrose Employees Club is supporting middle school science classrooms and teachers in the area. The club donated $1,000 each to Centennial Middle School, Columbine Middle School and Olathe Middle School.

Baby-Friendly USA, announces that Delta County Memorial Hospital has received prestigious international recognition as a Baby-Friendly Designated birth facility.

"Delta County Memorial Hospital administration is very proud of the efforts of the OB team to achieve this prestigious designation as a Baby-Friendly hospital," stated chief clinical officer Jody Roeber, FNP, MSN, RN.

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc., is upgrading an existing transmission line segment between the Montrose Substation west of Montrose to the Nucla Substation. Tri-State's construction contractor will begin upgrading the line segment in September 2017 and is scheduled to complete the project in October 2018.

First Colorado National Bank, the wholly-owned subsidiary of First Colorado Financial Corp. ("FCFC") and headquartered in Paonia, announced it has entered into an agreement and plan of merger and reorganization with BoeFly, LLC, a non-bank financial technology firm that operates an online platform that connects small business lenders and borrowers.

CertainTeed® Solar is pleased to partner with Solar Energy International (SEI) through the donation of an Apollo® II solar roofing array to the organization's Paonia training facility. The solar shingles, which are integrated into the roof of an equipment storage outbuilding, will generate power for the facility and provide attending students with a firsthand look at the training facility's first building-integrated solar products.

Delta County Joint School District #50 has assumed operation of the Head Start program in Delta County and has opened a Backpack Early Learning Academy (BELA) preschool in Cedaredge, enhancing the school district's ability to meet the needs of every preschool child in Delta County.

Angela Fedler, director of the Delta Family Center, said the ultimate goal is to facilitate the smoothest transition possible to kindergarten.

Five entrepreneurs, including two from Delta County, have been selected for the ICELab Business Accelerator program. The program provides support for the five entrepreneurs as they prepare for ICELab's inaugural "Pitch Day" Nov. 6 at Western State Colorado University.

Ken Richards is a born entrepreneuer who has started and sold three separate accounting practices. His latest venture is a value billing program for professional service firms. It's a program he uses within his own accounting firm. With guidance from ICELab Accelerator, he and co-founder Chris Hunter hope to commercialize the product for use by other professional firms.

Delta County Memorial Hospital was recently awarded $250,000 from the Colorado Health Foundation for the West Elk Clinic in Hotchkiss serving patients and families in Hotchkiss, Paonia and Crawford areas.

This grant will be used for equipment and interior furnishings at the new West Elk Clinic which is expected to open in early September for North Fork residents.

Operations at the First State Bank of Colorado locations in Hotchkiss, Delta, Paonia and Crawford will continue uninterrupted, following the announcement of the bank's parent company with TIG Bancorp.

Customer Bancorp, the holding company for First State Bank of Colorado, announced last week it has entered into an agreement to merge into TIG Bancorp, a newly formed Colorado-based bank holding company.

It's summertime in Colorado, and while the mountains await many, here in Delta there's a truly unique outdoor offering that can't be experienced in many other places across the country, let alone in-state.

The Tru Vu Drive-In is one of only 385 such outdoor movie spots left in America, according to owner Jeanne Dewsnup.

HopeWest has been named a recipient of the 2017 Hospice Honors award for the second consecutive year and the only hospice in Colorado to receive "elite" status. This national award recognizes hospices that continuously provide the best patient and caregiver experience as measured from the caregiver's point of view.

DMEA is currently conducting random phone surveys regarding customer service and member satisfaction with DMEA. As a result, some members are being asked about member satisfaction, services, experience, and need.

The Delta County Board of Commissioners signed a statement in support of fostering a solar-friendly market in Delta County on Monday, July 3, as a part of a larger effort to pursue a SolSmart designation for the county.

The SolSmart designation program is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Sunshot initiative and supports the goal of making it faster, cheaper and easier to go solar, according to the SolSmart official website.

In an effort to expand its mission and further educate the people of Colorado on responsible oil and gas development, the Piceance Energy Action Council (PEAC) is growing and changing its name. PEAC is now CREAC -- the Colorado Rural Energy Action Committee.

Delta-Montrose Electric Association (DMEA) will be conducting aerial line inspections across the service territory on Wednesday, July 12, beginning at 8 a.m. and lasting throughout the day. The patrol will be conducted by Mountain Blade Runner of Montrose using a helicopter.

For those of you who have bucket lists, one of the top things to do might be experiencing the thrill of parachuting. There is an easy remedy to fulfilling that wish, and it's more achievable than you think.

USA Ultimate Skydiving Adventures of Colorado is located in Delta at Blake Field Airport on 870 1575 Road.

The new owner of Paonia Cleaners is claiming that two stop work orders almost two months ago by the Town of Paonia's building official have needlessly halted her efforts to remodel the building and should never have been issued.

During the "visitors" portion of the June 20 board meeting, Gia Fanelli asked for cooperation from the town in removing the orders so that she can resume work.

ShadeScapes Americas has been named a 2017 Colorado Company to Watch. The award acknowledges the drive, excellence and influence of ShadeScapes Americas as a growing company developing valuable products and services, creating quality jobs, enabling new industries and enriching the community.

Solar Energy International's (SEI) Solar in the Schools program secured solid funding this month, when Delta-Montrose Electric Association committed $150,000 to the program. DMEA's board of directors voted unanimously at its regular May board meeting to funnel $150,000 from the co-op's Unclaimed Capital Credit fund to support the installation of solar electric systems at five high schools within DMEA's service territory.

LOINC, the world's most commonly used universal code system for identifying medical test results, observations and other clinical measurements, has announced the recipient of the annual LOINC Award for Distinguished Contributions. The award, in its second year, honors individuals whose work advances the interoperability that ensures that medical data can be recorded, electronically exchanged and ultimately used to improve health -- when and where needed.

Changes are on the horizon for the Delta County Historical Society and Museum. Director and curator Jim Wetzel has given the board of directors his notice that he will retire in April 2018, after 20 years on the job. Coupled with declining financial resources, his retirement has caused the board of trustees to look into new ways of operating the museum.

One organization in Delta County is working hard at ensuring that families are functioning at their very best, and it is reaching out for help to expand the mission. The board of directors of the Pregnancy Resource Center in Delta invited area clergy and community supporters to the center last week to give an update of what they have been doing and future plans.

Colorado's county clerks and their staffs learned about election security and costs, motor vehicle registration kiosks and privacy vs. public access from a stakeholder's viewpoint at their conference in Snowmass Village last week.

Secretary of state Wayne Williams addressed the Colorado County Clerks Association on June 20, outlining legislation his office advocated for, the state's leading status when it comes to voter turnout and registration, and future training to learn about election audits.

A major renovation project spurred by HVAC failure at Delta Family Physicians has temporarily closed the clinic at 555 Meeker Street, Delta. Medical care, however, has not been disrupted, as the clinic's 23 employees temporarily provide patient care in other DCMH clinics in Delta.

Clinic director Diane Dockter is hopeful the clinic will re-open by mid-July. When it does, it will be even more functional for patients and staff.

JENNMAR affiliate Compliance Staffing Agency (CSA), the premier nationwide provider of workforce solutions for the energy industry, expanded its service offerings and expertise with the acquisition of TK Mining Services. Along with its purchase of Price Mine Services in November 2015, CSA has assembled the assets, personnel and presence to offer unparalleled service offerings and pricing in the western U.S.

Monica Morris-Whelan and Chanda Morris-Jones are carrying on a family tradition that began 65 years ago, when Dr. Thayer Morris and his wife Gerri moved to Colorado and Dr. Thayer began his career as an independent career of optometry.

He first worked with Dr. James Bush in Grand Junction, then established his own practice in Delta in August 1952.

There was no contest for the three DMEA director terms coming up for election this year. As a result, at DMEA's annual meeting held at Hotchkiss High School on June 15 Mark Eckhart was returned to his board position for district 7; John Gavin was returned to his board position for the north region; and, Damon Lockhart was named to the district 6 board position formerly held by Terry Brown who chose not to run again.

From June 15 to June 30, owners of taxable personal property (e.g., business furnishings, equipment, etc.) may challenge the county assessor's valuation of their property. The value determined by the assessor is based on information submitted on your Personal Property Declaration Schedule.

A street party to celebrate River Valley Family Health Center's fifth anniversary as a rapidly growing successful health care organization, will be held Friday, June 23, from 4 to 7 p.m. in front of the Olathe clinic at 308 Main Street to thank the community for its support.

The entire community is welcome -- neighbors, friends, board members (past and present) and especially patients and those who are considering being patients, said Jeremy Carroll, CEO.

Solarize Delta County Farms is teaming up with the Colorado Energy Office and the Colorado Department of Agriculture to host a presentation for agricultural producers in Delta County on state energy efficiency programs and renewable energy financing. The event will be at Heritage Hall in Hotchkiss on June 14 at 7 p.m.

Diamond Joe Cafe & Saloon opened last week in Crawford under the ownership/management of Tami Carver, a fifth-generation Crawford resident. The restaurant is located on Hwy. 92 in the former Boardwalk restaurant.

The very best fudge in the state of Colorado is right in your backyard -- and, more than likely, it was handmade just a few hours before it appears on the shelves -- using real butter, sugar, cream and chocolate, of course. Mark and Lisa Hill, owners of Drost's Chocolates in Eckert, won first place last week in the 2017 Chocolatier Championships at the Colorado Chocolate Festival for their chocolate pecan fudge.

Ciders from the local Snow Capped Cider brand have been awarded top honors at a prestigious major international competition.

The local ciders made from fruit grown in Surface Creek Valley took two of the top three places in their class with gold medals, and a third Snow Capped Cider won a silver medal at the Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition (GLINTCAP) held at Grand Rapids, Mich., on April 20-21.

The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests announces the retirement of Lee Ann Loupe, forest public affairs officer, on June 1. Loupe has been the forests' representative for media, legislative affairs and various other roles over the past 11 years.

Delta-Montrose Electric Association is the 2017 recipient of the Edgar F. Chesnutt Award for Best Total Communication Program, the highest honor in the Spotlight on Excellence Awards program. DMEA serves 27,000 members in Montrose, Delta and Gunnison counties.

Colorow Care Center, an Olathe-based provider of rehabilitation and skilled nursing, is proud to have presented the Dolphin House Child Advocacy Center of the 7th Judicial District with a check for $1,212.

Since the beginning in 1979, Colorow Care Center has centered its focus on the elders and "elders' choice."

The ICELab Business Accelerator is a joint program for Delta and Gunnison counties funded by a U.S. Economic Development Administration grant by request of Western State Colorado University. The entire effort is driven in response to the idling of the Elk Creek mine in Somerset and the need for sustainable, economic development.

River Valley Family Health Center welcomes an enthusiastic new provider and outdoorsman to its rapidly growing family of eight practitioners serving Montrose, Olathe, Delta and the surrounding communities. David Cain, a nationally certified physician assistant, will begin seeing patients for primary care in early May at the Olathe Community Clinic, 308 Main Street, Olathe, said Debby Harrison-Zarkis, COO of River Valley.

Delta County Memorial Hospital is pleased to announce the addition of the "Look Good Feel Better" program through Grand Mesa Oncology. Part of the oncology center's effort to focus on the physical, mental, spiritual and emotional aspects of each patient, this program will be beneficial to patients suffering with hair loss and skin issues during chemotherapy.

Helping to fund the Surface Creek Animal Shelter in Cedaredge, Colorado, the Shelter Shoppe, 290 N. Grand Mesa Drive, has been so busy this month that three volunteers have arisen as volunteers of the month.

Alvena Richard, a 10-year resident of Cedaredge, has volunteered at the Shelter Shoppe almost since its beginning citing her love of animals as the reason she continues her tenure at the Shoppe.

Solar Energy International (SEI) is launching a third and final round of Solarize, which is an educational community outreach program aimed at kickstarting a solar market in a region. Solarize has been successful in introducing 42 new solar systems to the region and garnering nearly $1 million in local investments, and now SEI is building off of past momentum and shifting its focus to major contributors to the Delta County economy: farms and businesses.

The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management recognizes National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, April 9-15. When an emergency arises and you call 9-1-1 for help, the stress of the situation may cause you to forget your address.

In recognition of the 10th anniversary of Alpine Bank in Delta, the bank and staff are planning various monthly activities throughout the year. There will be a bigger celebration occurring during the month of July, the actual month the bank opened in 2007.

The Center for Mental Health is pleased to announce the Colorado Association for School-Based Health Care (CASBHC) has chosen Renee Joyce, therapist at A KidZ Clinic in Delta, as the recipient of the 2017 CASBHC Inspiration Award for Outstanding School-Based Health Center Behavioral Health Provider.

In support of the next generation of agricultural leaders, Tractor Supply Company and the National FFA Foundation partnered for the second consecutive year to back student-driven agriculture projects that will benefit Colorado communities and FFA chapters for years to come.

The church governing board of Volunteers of America has approved 48 individuals to become commissioned as Volunteers of America ministers from across the country. Two candidates are from western Colorado -- Erin Berge, regional marketing director, and Tara Cassidy, admissions and marketing director at Valley Manor Care Center.

If you have been a credit union member in Delta over the past 30-plus years you almost certainly know Mary Suppes. Even before Mary was employed by what was then Delta Federal Credit Union, she was a volunteer on the credit committee, helping with the loan review and decisioning process.

On March 4, the annual Western Colorado Nightingale Awards banquet was held at the Colorado Mesa University Ballroom in Grand Junction. This event is a way to honor nurses who best exemplify the philosophy and nursing practice of Florence Nightingale, a 19th century nursing pioneer.

A local home by Cedaredge homebuilder Tate Locke of Locke Construction LLC dba Cristee-Meade Building Company entered in Fine Homebuilding magazine's annual HOUSES Awards has placed first in the readers' choice contest, the DCI has learned.

The Todd Ranch in Crawford, owned and operated by Danny and Monita Todd and their daughter Hannah, was recently honored as the 2016 Outstanding Commercial Producer of the Year by the Colorado Cattlemen's Association.

A release issued by the Cattlemen's Association says, "The Todd Ranch represents an exemplary family-owned commercial cattle operation that is deeply seeded in ranching heritage.

Volunteers of America is pleased to announce the appointment of Joe Walker as the new program director for Senior CommUnity Meals (SCM). Walker was previously employed as the program director and returns to Colorado after working remotely from Missouri as the program dietitian.

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of Alpine Bank in Delta County, the bank is sponsoring local organizations and events on a monthly basis throughout the year as a way of recognizing not only its 10-year milestone but also its commitment to the community. The monthly events and activities are selected by the staff at the Delta location under the leadership of branch manager, Barbara Wolfe.

It was a rush to the finish line last week for Colin and April MacGregor of Crawford, owners of Broadtail Builders, a custom home design and construction business, as they made the finishing touches on a home that was heading to Oregon first thing this week. The home was the couple's first tiny home they designed and built.

For years, on the first and 15th of every month, Delta County Libraries administrative staff has gathered bills, organized payroll and arranged vouchers to deliver to the home office of bookkeeper Emma Neil. "Inevitably, we could look forward to a phone call a couple hours after we left our bills with Emma," laughs district director Lea Hart.

In January, Dana Wilson was named the new associate district manager for the Bureau of Land Management's Southwest District, based out of the Montrose Public Lands Center. The Southwest District includes about 2.6 million acres of BLM lands within the Grand Junction, Uncompahgre and Tres Rios Field Offices.

United Country Real Estate is not only one of the largest land brokerages internationally, but it is also one of the largest real estate and personal property auction companies in the world, with over $1 billion in auction sales in 2016. United Country has 431 offices nationwide, with 329 auctioneers working out of 177 auction-centric offices.

Rod Fraser and 26 other elite drivers from Colorado have been inducted into UPS' prestigious "Circle of Honor." Every year, the Atlanta-based company recognizes UPS employees who have delivered packages for a quarter of a century without an accident.

Recent media reports have placed Delta County Memorial Hospital on the "critical condition" list, but CEO Jason Cleckler says the hospital is in no danger of closing.

In January, Steven Summer, president and CEO of the Colorado Hospital Association, was quoted in the Denver Post, saying as many as eight Colorado hospitals "could have sustainability problems" if the Affordable Care Act is repealed without a similar replacement.

The home of Dave and Edie Burgess -- and the site of the Graystone Restaurant -- was originally an apple packing shed. The Burgesses purchased the building in 1996, intending to covert it into a house.

Greg Larson has been selected as the Uncompahgre field manager in Montrose. Larson is responsible for overseeing about one million acres of BLM lands in Montrose, Ouray, Delta, Gunnison, San Miguel and Mesa counties.

Jason Cleckler, CEO of Delta County Memorial Hospital, was recently recognized as one of the "Top 60 Rural Hospital CEOs to Know" in the country by Becker's Hospital Review, which will feature Cleckler and other top rural hospital CEOs in its March issue.

Forty-one years of volunteering for Delta County Memorial Hospital was celebrated with a Mardi Gras theme Saturday, Feb. 18. About 70 Pink Ladies, Red Barons and guests attended the annual banquet and meeting in the oncology classrooms on the Delta County Memorial Hospital campus.

In 2016, Alpine Bank donated $989,719.76 to local nonprofit groups and projects through funds generated from the Loyalty Debit Card program. Alpine Bank is a true local bank -- giving where its employees live, together strengthening communities.

Students and faculty at Delta-Montrose Technical College (DMTC) will join others across the nation to celebrate SkillsUSA Week, Feb. 5-11. The annual celebration, presented by Carhartt, represents over 300,000 SkillsUSA members nationwide and promotes career and technical education (CTE).

The law firm of Clay and Dodson P.C. announces that Julie J. Huffman has joined the firm as an associate attorney. Huffman received her bachelor's degree from the University of Northern Colorado and her law degree from Salmon P. Chase College of Law in Kentucky.

An international solar energy company, a regional newspaper with more than 30,000 subscribers and two companies operating under a synergistic business model were among those honored at the annual meeting of the Paonia Chamber of Commerce on Jan. 25.

Alta Vista de la Montana opened five years ago, but property manager Nicole Mata believes many people still don't understand how the North Delta property is meeting the need for affordable housing for agricultural workers.

A project of the Community Resources & Housing Development Corporation (CRHDC), the development just off Highway 50 features 40 three- and four-bedroom apartments suitable for families.

Comfort Home of Delta is closing as an assisted living facility. The smallest of three privately licensed assisted facilities serving Delta County, Comfort Home has been licensed for eight beds since March 2008.

Sandra Barie, a Heirlooms for Hospice volunteer, arranges a clothing display at Heirlooms' new location at 532 Main Street. The commercial building was recently renovated by Pam and Shane Atchley; Heirlooms finished the interior with repurposed wood and crates.

Foodborne illness (what we usually call "food poisoning) is a common, costly -- yet preventable -- public health problem. Each year, one in six Americans gets sick by consuming contaminated foods or beverages.

The idea of Orchard City turning to marijuana as a town government tax source first came up at the end of a budget work session last September. Mayor Ken Volgamore took a straw poll of trustees on the marijuana-as-revenue issue. No decisions were made at that time.

Chalmer Swain, owner of Taylor Funeral Service & Crematory, recently qualified for recertification of the designation of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. Swain is a lifetime member of the academy.

The day before snow started falling in Delta, crews finished the exterior repairs of Davis Clothing, on the southwest corner of 4th and Main.

The building suffered extensive damage Thanksgiving Day, when a Grand Junction woman, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, rammed her RV through the side of the building. The popular mural depicting Delta County fruit labels was also damaged.

After 10 years in business, Nina Suzanne's women's clothing boutique will be closing at the end of the year. Nina Crozier, owner, announced she is semi-retiring and all her inventory will be on sale until Dec. 31.

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) slashed by about 85 percent a request by Black Hills Energy to increase electric rates by $8.5 million annually.

Final rates won't be determined until after a technical conference on Dec. 7 to input the commission's decisions on various rate adjustments into the company's cost model, but it is expected that the increase will be less than $2 million.

United States Beef Corporation (US Beef), Arby's largest franchisee, headquartered in Tulsa, Okla., announces the grand opening of its newest Arby's restaurant in Delta Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 10 a.m. Arby's is located in the building formerly occupied by Kentucky Fried Chicken on the northwest corner of Highway 50 and Confluence Drive.

Meeting with county commissioners on Monday for a "relatively informal presentation" and informational update, GMUG Forest supervisor Scott Armentrout said the agency will remain at its present headquarters location in Delta.

The Forest Service has awarded a new lease for the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests headquarters office in Delta. The awardee is the current owner of the Forest Service office located at 2250 Highway 50 in Delta.

It's business as usual at Davis Clothing, thanks to a legion of friends who stepped in to help dust and vacuum the interior of the store after a Grand Junction woman rammed her RV through the side of the building.

Owner Brad Davis was just sitting down to his Thanksgiving meal when his phone rang shortly after 2:30 p.m.

Local small businesses throughout the Surface Creek Valley threw open their doors to the holiday season on Small Business Saturday held on Nov. 26. It was part of a national promotion to recognize the importance of shopping your local merchants.

Since 1995, Little Sprouts Preschool has given a generation of local families a chance -- that is a chance for quality, early learning experiences for its preschoolers in a safe and caring environment close to home.

As Little Sprouts Preschool enters its second generation of service and looks to the future, it also offers a choice -- that is the choice for its children's early learning in a community-based setting that places the family at the center of fully professional, caring guidance and instruction.

Local businesses and the Chamber of Commerce this week will be participating in a nationwide promotional event sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Set for this coming Saturday, Nov. 26, the "Small Business Saturday" promotion is offering greatly expanded opportunities for retailers and their customers over the "shop local, shop small" promotions seen in the past.

Volunteers of America National Services Foundation and Horizons Care Center announce that current employee, Joe Kersen, LPN, has received an educational scholarship for 2016-2017.

The purpose of the educational scholarship is to support and encourage employees to pursue learning opportunities through education and training, as this is a core value and a strategic imperative within the non-profit organization.

Lee Marts Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) Post 3571 of Delta is teaming up with the Colorado Aviation Business Association's (CABA) Holiday Airlift and the Dollar Tree in Delta to assist needy and homeless veterans and their families in the area.

This will be the sixth year the VFW has worked with CABA to distribute food and toys to needy veterans.

The ImpressionZ artists co-op gallery in Cedaredge is observing a first successful year in business.

During its first year, the gallery has expanded the art offerings exhibited for display, it has become a magnet and a center of promotions for the local arts community, and it is planning new ventures in outreach, marketing, workshops and instructions.

Delta County Memorial Hospital plans to open its new DCMH Hotchkiss Family Medicine facility by next summer.

"I think this is a great project for the hospital," said DCMH CEO Jason Cleckler at a Nov. 4 groundbreaking ceremony. "It certainly shows our ongoing dedication to health care across the entire county."

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) received five awards from the 2016 Engineering News-Records Mountain States Best Project competition for various transportation projects. Mountain States Best Project awards are judged based on design and construction quality, contribution to the community and the industry, and how a project overcame unusual challenges through teamwork and collaboration.

HopeWest has been recognized as one of Modern Healthcare's Top 100 Best Places to Work in Health Care nationwide, ranked number 54, among hundreds of organizations that participated across the country.

Modern Healthcare, a national trade publication, honors workplaces throughout the health care industry that empower employees to provide patients and customers with the best possible care, products and services.

John Sisson always knew he wanted to be a cook. He got his start as a teenager working at the Rainbow Hotel and Cafe in Hotchkiss, now marked by a faded sign on the side of the two-story historic brick building.

The sun has set on the recent Solarize campaign, but the future of the solar market in Delta County is bright. Results of this program revealed that as a community, Delta County invested $500,000 in 150 kW of solar energy, achieving the $500 mark in a tiered rebate system.

The nomination of Bill Hellman Jr., dealer at Hellman Motor Company, a Ford and Toyota dealer in Delta, for the 2017 TIME Dealer of the Year award was announced this week by TIME.

Hellman is one of a select group of 49 dealer nominees from across the country who will be honored at the 100th annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention & Exposition in New Orleans, La., on Jan. 27.

Revolution Brewing in Paonia is the first business in the North Fork Valley to connect to Elevate Fiber's 1-gigabite internet service powered by Delta-Montrose Electric Association. The brew pub welcomed the connection at its annual Oktoberfest celebration last Friday with a specially-brewed beer, brats and live music by Mike Gwinn and the North Fork Flyers.

Incorporated in 2007 and engaged in some of Colorado's largest conservation, public lands, and community campaigns of the last decade, Mountain West Strategies, Ltd. has now opened an office in Washington, D.C.

About 15 local citizens representing different communities and sectors of Delta County attended a workshop last week aimed at developing a local business brand. The discussion was spurred by a Blueprint 2.0 initiative -- one of three awarded to Delta County through the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT).

Scott and Stacy Malmgren, the new owners of Munson's Main Street Gallery, are looking forward to an exciting weekend and plan to add to the AppleFest fun with special events of their own. On Saturday, former owner Tracy Munson will be working as a barista, preparing lattés, espressos and smoothies while the Malmgrens dish out ice cream (including handcrafted ice cream sandwiches made especially for AppleFest).

Financing a new home purchase or refinancing an existing mortgage to take advantage of lower interest rates can be complex and confusing. As a mortgage loan officer, Portia Vigil's primary goal is to make the process as painless as possible.

On Sept. 14, the Delta County Board of REALTORS® held its annual recognition and installation of officers at Delicious Orchards in Hotchkiss.

Recognized for outstanding achievement were the following: Land Title Guarantee as affiliate business partner of 2016; Mallori Salazar of Next Chapter Properties as rookie REALTOR® for 2016; and Janice Pappas of Mason Real Estate as REALTOR® of 2016.

Ace Hardware Corporation is pleased to announce that Delta Hardware has achieved designation as a "Pinnacle Performance Retailing" store for its outstanding performance. Developed as part of Ace's long-term retail growth strategy, 20/20 Vision, Pinnacle Performance Retailing is laser-focused on Ace's customers, helping to ensure that Ace stores deliver on their brand promise day in and day out.

Tammy Geisler recently completed extensive continuing education coursework to become a graduate of the Realtor Institute. The GRI is the mark of real estate professionals who have made a commitment to provide a high level of professional service to their community.

Raise your glass in a toast to Elevate Fiber, powered by DMEA, at the annual Montrose Oktoberfest. Elevate, in partnership with Revolution Brewing of Paonia, will tap its Elevate IPA -- a special batch black IPA -- at the event on Oct. 1. Elevate Fiber representatives will be on hand to help pour samples of the new beer and answer questions.

Delta County is in line to land a new business that could bring the kind of economic development local officials have hoped for.

Forgeworks found a dream-come-true location for its business expansion as a company principal driving from Ridgway to Grand Junction noticed a vacant building sitting amid 300 acres of row crops on B-50 Road.

Colorado became a state in 1876, exactly 100 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, earning it the moniker of Centennial State. Colorado Day is an annual observance that commemorates the state's birthday on Aug. 1, 1876.

3D mammography exams are now being offered at Delta County Memorial Hospital. By utilizing advanced 3D breast tomosynthesis technology, mammography exams are clinically proven to significantly increase the detection of invasive breast cancers, while simultaneously decreasing the number of women asked to return for additional testing.

The rusty old cars on Main Street have proven to be a hot topic. Some folks love them, others say they do nothing to enhance the image of the city. To owner Orval Proctor, the cars and trucks are an important part of automotive history.

3D mammography exams are now being offered at Delta County Memorial Hospital. By utilizing advanced 3D breast tomosynthesis technology, mammography exams are clinically proven to significantly increase the detection of invasive breast cancers, while simultaneously decreasing the number of women asked to return for additional testing.

Region 10 has selected TCS Communications LLC, a Colorado-based contractor, to build broadband infrastructure in the City of Delta. Region 10 welcomes TCS to its broadband implementation team and looks forward to working with one of Colorado's best network construction companies, with extensive experience in middle mile and fiber to the premise projects.

Karen Emmons is Delta Correctional Center's 2016 Employee of the Year. She won this distinguished award based on exceptional commitment to teamwork and outstanding performance. She is an administrative assistant III who goes above and beyond to assist staff and offenders in all administrative areas.

The owners of a new pizza restaurant on Cedaredge's Main Street decided that last Friday would be a good time for a little celebration for customers and friends, and so they had a celebration.

Ray and Annie Batalla, owners of Annie's Pizzeria open since June 1, arranged for horse-drawn carriage rides and music by a Christian group as their friends and customers enjoyed pizza and ice cream on a pleasant summer evening.

Delta-Montrose Electric Association (DMEA) members in the Hotchkiss area have recently reported receiving scam phone calls from individuals posing as DMEA employees. The scammers are using more sophisticated technology to ensure DMEA's 1-877-687-3236 number appears on caller IDs and are providing fake names, employee ID numbers and supervisor names.

Hilltop's Robert A. Brown Center for Youth was awarded $2,000 from the Rocky Mountain District Kiwanis Foundation to support recreation and outdoor activities for the boys residing in the Brown Center. The money will help pay for youth sport fees, equipment for team sports, and camps for the youth.

Annie's Pizzeria may not make owner Ray Batalla-Santiago and his family a lot of money, but it's sure to make them a lot of friends, and in Ray's mind that's far more important than a fat bank account.

The Colorado Office of Economic Development and Trade is partnering with the counties of Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Ouray, San Miguel and Montrose to bring one-on-one consulting to the area. All businesses in the region can take advantage of the business growth strategy assistance.

In a letter addressed to Secretary Sally Jewell, U.S. Department of the Interior, County Commissioners Bruce Hovde, Doug Atchley and Mark Roeber told Secretary Jewell, "Coal is the backbone of our nation's electric grid and Delta County."

The letter enumerates costs to the coal industry which add to the companies' expense in doing business.

With the acquisition of several large grants and the development of a comprehensive implementation strategy, the regional broadband network proposed by Region 10 is becoming more of a reality by the day.

As this project accelerates, the need for a high level of detail and technical knowledge to implement the strategy are the utmost importance.

Greg and Kristi Stratman with RE/MAX Mountain West are among the 2,691 RE/MAX agents and teams featured in the 2016 REAL Trends "America's Best Real Estate Agents" survey. The agents included in the survey represent less than 1 percent of all real estate professionals in the United States.

Since returning to Delta nearly 10 years ago, Morgan Yost DDS has steadily been growing the dental practice started by his father, Lyle.

Morgan, the youngest of Lyle and Judy's five children, returned to Delta in 2008 with the goal of updating his father's practice without losing the personal connections he believes are essential to a pleasant, comfortable visit to the dentist.

The Hotchkiss Town Council got a look at the medical clinic coming to town at its monthly meeting last Thursday night at Hotchkiss Town Hall.

Montrose architect Tom Chamberlain represented his client, Delta County Memorial Hospital, which had three requests for the council to consider as the process to build a new medical clinic in town continued.

Since soon after its earliest settlers moved into Colorado's North Fork Valley, the area has relied on two major forces to drive its economy: energy and agriculture. This week community leaders from one of Colorado's top coal-producing regions are taking a message to the nation's capital that energy and agriculture should remain a top focus for its prosperous future.

During the recent 94th annual Colorado Municipal League (CML) conference, CML recognized municipal elected officials statewide who reached milestone levels in its MUNIversity program -- a leadership program for Colorado's municipal elected officials. This program was started in January 1991 by the league's executive board to recognize the efforts of officials who go the extra mile to increase their knowledge of municipal government and their capacity to lead.

The Center for Mental Health, headquartered in Montrose, has been awarded $600,000 from the Department of Local Affairs, Community Development Block Grant program to help remodel a portion of the Delta clinic at 107 West 11th Street. These funds will make it possible to renovate an unused portion of the existing building currently owned by the organization.

Grace Healthcare has sold its three remaining skilled nursing facilities in Colorado, removing its presence completely from the western United States.

The three properties, Paonia Care and Rehab Center, Grace Healthcare & Rehab of Glenwood Springs and Pioneer Health Care Center in central Colorado, sold to a California-based investor for $15,300,000 or $67,000 per bed, and will be leased to an operator with a Colorado presence.

In an effort to spur economic growth, improve the city's tax base and increase property values, the City of Delta has worked with Delta County Economic Development and county officials to develop an economic incentive policy.

Incentives will be offered, on a case-by-case basis, to new or expanding businesses.

Delta County Memorial Hospital has received a second national award as one of the "Top 50 Critical Access Hospitals to Know" from Becker's Hospital Review. The Delta hospital is not officially recognized with a critical access designation, but is defined as a district, rural community hospital serving Delta County families.

Linda Lario with RE/MAX Mountain West has been presented with the prestigious RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors highly successful agents who have earned more than $3 million in commissions and have completed seven years of service with the company. Less than six percent of all active agents in the RE/MAX network have achieved this prestigious award since its inception.

The DCMH Foundation board has voted to support CU Medical School's Rural Track Program, which will help bring a third year medical student to our community for a three-month medical residency rotation, reports Thelma Starner, foundation president.

For the fourth year, Alpine Bank is pleased to offer the Alpine Bank Scholarship for students attending the Montrose CMU campus. The scholarship is open to part time and full time students with a 2.5 GPA or above.

Region 10 welcomes Nancy Murphy as its new director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). With over three decades of executive business experience (with a keen eye for marketing), Murphy will play a vital role in continued support of the small business community in Delta, Montrose, Ouray, Gunnison, Hinsdale and San Miguel counties.

Delta County Economic Development has announced a new business is moving to Delta County.

Waste Farmers, a sustainable agricultural company manufacturing bagged soil products, recently closed on the Hi Quality food processing building at 215 Silver Street in Delta. They will be moving their manufacturing operations to Delta from the Front Range.

HopeWest received perfect results for the second consecutive time on an unannounced, onsite survey of hospice organizations conducted every three years by the Health Facilities Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).

"We are thrilled to have received notice that no deficiencies were cited for our survey," said Terri Walter, chief administrative officer and senior vice president.

Touch of Care recently had three unannounced surveys by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Touch of Care-Delta, Touch of Care-Montrose, and Touch of Care-In Home Support Services (IHSS) recently completed onsite surveys and for the second three-year-cycle in a row were all deemed deficiency free.

A local landmark once referred to as "the only really first-class hotel in the county," the Bross Hotel in Paonia opened for business 110 years ago this May. On May 28, a celebration was held to mark the anniversary and to celebrate its recent inclusion to the National Register of Historic Places by the U. S. Department of the Interior.

Yvonne Rowland has been named the branch manager of Bank of the West in Delta. She replaces Tracy German, who was promoted. German may still occasionally be spotted in the Delta branch, but her new responsibilities will require frequent travel.

Volunteers of America is pleased to announce the appointment of Elizabeth Goodwin as the new regional registered dietitian. The position serves all of the Volunteers of America programs in both Montrose and Delta counties, providing oversight and direction to dietary directors and their food service staff members.

HopeWest has been named a recipient of the 2016 Hospice Honors award, an elite national award that recognizes hospices that provide the highest level of quality as measured from the caregiver's point of view.

Presented annually by Deyta Analytics, a division of HEALTHCAREfirst, the Hospice Honors award winners are announced at the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization's Management and Leadership Conference held each spring in Washington, D.C.

"Perfect timing - a great moment to capture" the judges said about a Tamie Meck photo that earned first place in the Colorado Press Association's Better Newspaper Contest. The awards were presented during the CPA's annual convention in Denver May 13-14.

First Colorado National Bank is partnering with the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce to host a ribbon cutting and open house Tuesday, May 24, from 3 to 5 p.m. The event will be held at the branch located at 150 Gunnison River Drive.

On Friday, April 22, regional forester Dan Jirón and deputy regional foresters Maribeth Gustafson and Jacque Buchanan honored over 90 partners and employees for their contributions and successes during the annual regional forester's honor awards ceremony. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell joined the celebration by videoconference.

Six candidates will compete for a seat on Delta-Montrose Electric Association's (DMEA) nine-member board this spring. The District 3, District 4, and the South Region positions are up for election. The official candidates are as follows:

Delta County Memorial Hospital has received its third patient safety "A" in the past four years from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit run by employers and other large purchasers of health benefits. It is one of the only hospitals on the Western Slope to receive a patient "A."

Tammy Murray has big plans for a restaurant at 420 Main Street in Delta. She purchased the building formerly occupied by Gabriela's and is completely remodeling the interior, as well as renovating the building to incorporate a smoker to impart flavor, primarily to chicken, but other meats as well. The restaurant will be known as "The Chicken Roost."

On March 17, Taco Time's first co-op meeting of the year was held in Salt Lake City. The franchise's top stores, managers and crew members for 2015 were recognized at this meeting. There are 55 stores in the group.

Delta County Memorial Hospital has just purchased new, state-of-the-art video technology in gastrointestinal surgical equipment. The new high definition equipment is for performing upper endoscopy, colonoscopy and bronchoscopy procedures.

A new electronic medical records program has been implemented at the clinics operated by Delta County Memorial Hospital.

"Athena is a software program which has the top rating score for an electronic medical records (EMR) program that fits with the size of the DCMH clinics," stated Jan McCracken, clinics director for Delta County Memorial Hospital (DCMH).

Delta County Memorial Hospital has been named as one of the 2016 top 20 rural community hospitals out of 525 rural community hospitals in the nation by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), according to a recent announcement.

He's been a familiar face in the business community. He's helped many local businesses open their doors for the first time. He's also helped them figure out innovative ways to improve their businesses. And at the end of April, Vince Fandel, director of the Small Business Development Center, will be retiring from his position.

April 11 marks the 48th anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended, which enunciates a national policy of fair housing without regard to race, color, religion, sex, familial status, handicap and national origin, and encourages fair housing opportunities for all.

When Amy DeLuca and Frederick Zimmer committed to opening a business in Paonia, they wanted it to reflect all that they love about the area -- its food, agriculture, recreation, arts, music and community.

Alpine Bank is committing once again to participate in National Volunteer Week April 10-16. Locally, Alpine Bank has partnered with Delta senior citizens and Delta volunteer firefighters to provide employees with volunteer opportunities.

The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is a federally funded job training program for unemployed seniors age 55 and over. SCSEP is seeking employers in Delta, Montrose, Mesa, Garfield, Gunnison, Eagle, Grand, Ouray, Pitkin, Routt and Moffat counties to host a participant in the program.

A new dimension in oncology care has taken place at Grand Mesa Oncology and Infusion Center with the addition of a third oncology physician, Dr. Helen Goldberg, who offers credentials in integrative oncology along with 23 years as an oncology physician and six years as an oncology nurse.

The Center for Mental Health has had a robust worksite wellness program for the past four years. The wellness program improves employee health and provides incentives to participate in wellness-related activities.

Tri-County Resources is now operating under a new name -- Hilltop Domestic Violence Services. Hilltop's Domestic Violence Services will continue to provide services for those affected by domestic violence and sexual assault in Montrose, Delta and Ouray counties.

Doctors are special people who make the world a better place. Celebrating the science of healing and the art of caring, with tireless dedication and professionalism -- it is an honor to celebrate Delta County's medical providers on National Doctor's Day, commented Delta County Memorial Hospital CEO Jason Cleckler.

Chelsea Frediani isn't horsing around. The Paonia teacher and riding instructor is confident that this spring she can begin construction of an indoor riding arena and horse stables on her 28-acre Bone Mesa farm.

Frediani has submitted an application for Trailhead Stables, a minor specific development proposed at the intersection of 4050 and L75 roads in unincorporated Delta County.

The Commission of the Council on Occupational Education (COE) has granted accreditation to Delta-Montrose Technical College. Announcement of the action was made by Al Salazar, commission chair, following the COE winter meeting of the Council on Occupational Education on Feb. 22.

With news of more North Fork Valley mine closures and losses of jobs and tax revenues, attracting business to the North Fork Valley is a hot topic right now. Almost 100 people packed the Paonia Library meeting room last week to hear about all the good things planned and already happening in Delta County.

Delta County Memorial Hospital now offers an option to patients with bills from the hospital or any of the nine hospital-owned and operated clinics to pay online through the newly redesigned hospital website. In order to access this new feature, type in deltahospital.org, then go to the top, to the drop-down menu for Patient Information.

Food, music and awards highlighted the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce's annual banquet March 12 at Bill Heddles Recreation Center. The occasion was also an opportunity for new relationships to be formed, and for old acquaintanceships to be renewed.

Due to a substantial increase in patient demand at the DCMH Urgent Care clinic, Tony Maul, RN, MSN, MBA and Family Nurse Practitioner-Certified (FNP-C), has recently been added as the third provider. He is fluent in Spanish, has full prescriptive authority in Colorado, and was recently employed as a family nurse practitioner along the Front Range of Colorado.

The Delta Senior Center is honored to display works of art by W. Richard "Dick" Doherty in the dining hall located at 247 Meeker Street. Doherty is a well-known artist and teacher who has played an important role in the development of the arts in this area.

Region 10's Small Business Development Center hit the ground running in 2016. With a robust schedule of business classes already scheduled for the new year, SBDC is striving to provide valuable content that small business owners and entrepreneurs are demanding.

Volunteers of America health care management staff recently attended training to reduce the frequency of transfers to the acute hospital. Transfers to the hospital can be emotionally and physically difficult for long-term care residents, clients and participants, as well as costly.

The word "launch" is universally understood by anglers as the act of casting off a raft into the river for a fun-filled day of fishing. However, local Delta fishing equipment provider and entrepreneur, Chris Mortimer, is ready for another kind of launch -- one where he introduces his new business and a line of unique gear specifically designed for the "wilderness athlete."

SourceGas is now Black Hills Energy, as Black Hills on Feb. 12 announced its successful acquisition of SourceGas, the natural gas utility serving 429,000 customers in Arkansas, Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming.

"Black Hills Energy is excited to serve our new customers with safe, reliable energy and to maintain strong local ties that benefit the communities where we live and work," said Susan Bailey, vice president of operations for Black Hills Energy's natural gas utility operations in Colorado.

The Fireside is here to stay, says owner Ernst Schopp. He resumed operation of the restaurant formerly known as Cynthia's, changed back the name, and put in place a manager and chef who are committed to the success of the business.

Chalmer Swain, owner of Taylor Funeral Service & Crematory, recently qualified for recertification of the designation of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. Swain is a lifetime member of the academy.

A number of professions grant special recognition to members upon completion of specified academic and professional programs; CFSP is the funeral service's national recognition.

Big B's, the local organic juice company, received national attention at the 2016 Good Food Award. The North Fork-based company garnered medals for two of its hard ciders, Orchard Original and Pear Supply.

A Delta County businessman with strong feelings about the future of the local economy is taking steps to try and improve it.

Mark Eckhart is the owner of Long Haul Folding Kayaks. As a businessman, he sees that a turnaround in the county's economic fortunes is going to require money. He believes he knows where some of that money can come from and has launched a petition campaign to get public support for the idea.

A new ceramics class starting this week at the Creamery Center for the Arts in Hotchkiss promises to give potters of all abilities an opportunity for freedom of expression and creativity and one-on-one instruction.

Last Saturday, instructor Lucas Hoyt gave a presentation on the class "Intro to Ceramics: Wheel throwing, Handbuilding & Sculpture," and a visual presentation of his work to more than a dozen interested participants.

Todd Sheets is a videographer and owner of Hutman Media in Hotchkiss. His films have been used in promoting the area for almost a decade. A former chair for the Delta County Tourism Council, he's helped promote the area "where the deserts greet the mountains and the mesas."

Alpine Bank is pleased to announce the relocation of longtime employee, Barbara Wolfe (assistant vice president/branch manager), to the Delta branch as well as welcome Tammy Anderson to the Alpine Bank family.

Barbara Wolfe is a Colorado native, growing up on a ranch in the eastern plains of Colorado. Wolfe's career in banking began in 1981.

The National Endowment for the Arts has awarded a $10,000 grant through the Art Works category that supports the creation of work and presentation of both new and existing work, lifelong learning in the arts, and public engagement with the arts through 13 arts disciplines or fields. Elsewhere Studios received one of 22 grants awarded in Colorado.

The third annual Delta County Memorial Hospital "holiday food fight" was a huge success. Hospital departments competed in teams to see who could donate the most food, toiletries and pet food for local food banks, with close to 5,700 pounds donated this year.

The Brickwall Eatery has opened under a new name and with a new chef/owner. At the Wild Flower Bistro, 305 Main Street in Delta, Gretchen Morfogen is offering "timelessly crafted freshly made comfort classics."

Senior CommUnity Care, Volunteers of America is pleased to announce the appointment of Christa Coats as the new nurse manager of Senior CommUnity Care's Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).

Coats earned her bachelor of science degree in nursing from Colorado Mesa University and her master's of science in nursing from Walden University.

Chile Pepper Pottery, located at the corner of 1st and Palmer in Delta, is now sharing space with a new business. Fred and Ann Honchell have opened Gallery de la Luz, an artist's studio where both can express their creative talents while showcasing artwork produced by other area residents.

Cedaredge trustees heard during a special meeting on Monday, Nov. 23, that the manager of K&C's Local Grill, the restaurant at Cedaredge Golf Course, intends to terminate his lease on the facility at year's end.

Town administrator Katie Sickles told the trustees that restaurant manager Doug Coburn had notified the town that he wants to terminate his lease at the restaurant effective Jan 1. Coburn was not present at the meeting.

Region 10 and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) continue to expand services in the Delta area.

Using a new shared space with Delta County Economic Development (DCED), SBDC recently added two locally-based business consultants -- John Angelo and Jay Stooksberry -- to support small business owners and entrepreneurs in Delta and surrounding municipalities.

The Dolphin House Child Advocacy Center has been awarded accreditation by National Children's Alliance. The accrediting agency for children's advocacy centers across the country, National Children's Alliance awards various levels of accreditation and membership to centers responding to allegations of child abuse in ways that are effective and efficient, and put the needs of child victims of abuse first.

Nick Pasquariello has worked in restaurants from Telluride to Montrose to Denver, so when he decided to go into business for himself, he knew exactly what he was looking for -- a small-town location with a downhome atmosphere where he could build his customer base by offering consistently good food and service week after week.

Local recipients of grants from the 21st annual Wells Fargo Community Assistance Fund were announced Oct. 14 by Cesar Garcia, Wells Fargo's store manager for Delta. Six locally based nonprofit organizations received the donations totaling $5,000.

Crossroads Senior Living has opened a new memory care unit thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of residents with dementia. Crossroads at Delta Memory is located on the same property as the assisted living center and independent cottages operated by Crossroads just off 3rd Street in Delta.

Delta County Economic Development (DCED) and Region 10 are partnering to create a new business center and community hub for Delta. To kick off this collaboration, these two organizations moved into the former Bank of Colorado building located at 145 W. 4th Street.

The goal of Options counseling is to connect those in need -- specifically the elderly and disabled -- with the services and benefits that will make them self-sufficient. Region 10 and Aging and Disability Resources for Colorado (ADRC) have provided Options counseling for Montrose residents for years, but will soon be expanding into neighboring counties.

Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) announced recipients of the 2015-2016 Colorado Creates grant program, and two Delta County organizations are among the recipients. Delta Montrose Youth Services was awarded $6,500 and Elsewhere Studios in Paonia was awarded $4,000.

Phase II of the workforce housing units known as Villas at the Bluff was completed this summer -- and in fact is entirely occupied -- but Delta Housing Authority (DHA) delayed a grand opening ceremony until all its partners could join the celebration.

Since moving into its new location on Olathe's Main Street, River Valley Family Health Center has seen over a thousand new patients. To keep pace with the rapid growth, a second location will open in Montrose next month.

Community Options, Inc. has broken ground on a new location at 932 North Park Avenue in Montrose. Local contractor Vostatek Construction has been hired for the initial phase which is scheduled to be complete in the fall.

Nine Foster Farms facilities in five states, including the feed mill in Delta, earned the highest level of achievement for employee safety. The company received Awards of Distinction from the Joint Industry Safety and Health Council during the 2015 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry held last week in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Two Brothers Organics, the Hotchkiss-based company that operates Big B's Juices and Hard Ciders, was recently awarded a Colorado Department of Agriculture marketing and sales grant through the Enrich Colorado Ag Grant program.

Delta-Montrose Electric Association CEO Jasen Bronec met with White House officials in Washington, D.C., last week to discuss recent progress and potential collaboration on efficiency and renewable energy development. DMEA was one of 30 cooperatives invited to attend the meeting with officials from the White House Rural Council and the USDA's Rural Utilities Service.

This year marks Hilltop Community Resources 65th year of providing services and support to individuals and families in western Colorado. To celebrate, Hilltop is hosting a bash Friday, July 31, at the CMU Ballroom.